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#AskManning: Ryan answers fans questions

MIDFIELDER Ryan Manning took time out from his intense pre-season training in Portugal to answer fans’ questions on a whole host of topics.

Here’s a selection of what was discussed from the team’s training camp in Lagos …

The youngsters in the squad

All the players have come back flying and fit, especially us youngsters – this is our chance to prove ourselves. It’s always the case that the younger players have to come in and prove themselves. We want to hopefully impress the gaffer running wise, and then we will get our chance on the pitch to show what we can do.

Last season

When I went home at Christmas I had no idea what the next six months had in store for me. To then play the number of games I did was unreal. Hopefully that has set me up now to have a good full season in the Championship. It just goes to show other young players at the club that it can happen, and I was lucky enough that it happened to me.

Do you keep an eye on League of Ireland?

Yeah – every Friday night! The night before we play, or if we’re in a hotel, I keep an eye on results through social media. My little brother is playing with Galway United so I have to make sure I keep an eye on how he’s getting on!

I spent the last six weeks back at home and it was good to catch up with everyone.

Favourite moment so far in your QPR career?

That has to be the goal against Fulham. The whole occasion – a derby, on TV, it was incredible. The only thing that annoyed me was that we didn’t win the game.

Is this your hardest pre-season yet?

This is by far the hardest I’ve ever had. It was always difficult when I was coming through in the League of Ireland but here - three sessions a day, every day, the running, it’s relentless. No matter how tired you are, you have to keep going. We don’t like it and we’re always giving out about it, but we know we have to do it.

Which position do you prefer?

I don’t really mind, I have played in two or three different roles and I don’t mind playing in any of them. Anywhere in the middle is good for me.

Thoughts on our new kit?

I really like it, and the training wear is nice too – it looks good, it’s comfortable and I like it.

Personal goals for this season?

To play as many games as I can. I got 18 appearances last season and I want to beat that and get a full season under my belt. If I can be involved every week and play as many games as I can, that will be great.

How do you think QPR will get on this season?

I don’t want to jinx it but we are definitely putting in the graft that will enable us to have a very good season. I don’t want to make predictions though, that will jinx it!

Last season we had spells where you could see we were getting there. With a full pre-season under the gaffer, and if we can implement what he wants us to do, hopefully we can be battling in the top half of the table.

The players we have now are definitely capable of competing in the top half. If we can eradicate the mistakes that caused the losing streaks last season, that’s what we have got to look to do, we will have a good chance of doing well.

Best mate in the team?

I am living with Michael Petrasso, so I would say him and Joe Lumley as well. They are similar age to me and we have been around the first team at similar time.

Who is the joker in the team?

Do I need to answer that? It’s Jamie (Mackie) – you can see that with his video diaries that he’s doing out here. He is definitely the joker in the squad and is always up to something.

Do you feel like a first team player now?

Yeah, I would say so. I played quite a lot of games last season and getting involved in the pre-season and training with them every day, I do feel more and more like a first team player. I am certainly getting closer to feeling like a first team player anyway.